Spurred on in midfield by James Hibbs, the Saints won with goals from Lucas Parker – on his 18th birthday – Steve Cumming and Craig Leitch.
The Saints also scored Bels’ goal, Lee Bradshaw getting the last touch on a cross into the penalty area.St Paul’s joint-manager Bill Begbie said: ‘We got what we went for, a win to give us another game.
Bels gave us a really physical game – they had some talented young lads and a good mixture of young and old.
It was a good, competitive game and Bels impressed me with their set pieces.’Ray Queripel, Bels manager, said: ‘It’s harder to swallow losing to a Jersey team.
The first half we were good but second half we were very poor and didn’t deserve anything.’Parker took his chance after a Cumming shot was blocked.
Bels equalised with the own goal before Cumming rose high to nod the Jersey side into a 2-1 half time lead.St Paul’s bossed the second half, goalkeeper Daniel Evans didn’t have a save to make, before Leitch crashed home a powerful strike across the face of goal after good work from the impressive Parker.GIANT-KILLERS St Clement moved into the semi-finals of the WJ Collins Memorial Trophy after beating high-riding Division I Jersey Wanderers 5-2.The Division II club, who were relegated last season, continued their improving form to win at home with two goals apiece from Matt Scriven and Charlie Pedlingham and a single by Robin Pitcher.
Wanderers’ consolations were netted by Jon Southern and Russell Osmand.St Clement manager Colin Pack said: ‘It was a totally unexpected result and we’re delighted by it.
We played well, our attitude has been much improved of late after losing our first three games of the season.’In the opening games the players expected to win, they were taking things for granted but it doesn’t work that way.’Their attitude towards games has now changed.
The team spirit is good and they work hard to win every loose ball.
It’s paying off as that’s now four wins on the trot.’Wanderers were also denied by several fines saves from St Clement goalkeeper Fabio Fernandes.Wanderers manager Martyn Stratford said: ‘Full credit to St Clement they battled throughout and worked well as a team.’It was a scrappy game and we didn’t get out of second gear.
We had too many players who expected things to happen when they should be making things happen.’We had enough firepower in the side to have won the game but we didn’t take our chances.’Scriven shot St Clement ahead only for Wanderers to equalise just before half time through Jon Southern.Super-sub Pedlingham rifled home the Saints’ second into a top corner soon after the resumption and Scriven then nodded home St Clement’s third following a corner.Pedlingham made it 4-1 after taking the ball round the goalkeeper before Wanderers pulled back to trail 4-2 through Osmand.Pitcher hit St Clement’s fifth, after beating a defender and then rounding the goalkeeper to secure his team a place in the semi-finals.
